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Vax 805; ea, I
Professor refutes 'blind' philosophy,
asserts war critics' right to dissent
Dear Editor:
MIKE SUDD asserts (Exponent, March 21, "We
must stand behind our country and its position as best
we can." He goes on, "This is the only way we can pre-serve
our rights to secure a free country." Perhaps I am
mistaken, but I am chilled and repelled, by the implica-tion
of what Sudd seems to be saying, namely his en-dorsement
of the philosophy — "my country right or
wrong."
This is the same kind of mental process that per-mitted
people in Germany and elsewhere to condone
terrible genocide of the 1930's and '40's, for they too
were persuaded by this twisted logic and reasoning. I
connot recommend this type of reasoning or approach
to life to any student at NSC for it violates the premise
upon which Academe is based — the critical and impas-sionate
search for truth.
Truth is not served by blind loyalties and unthink-ing
nationalism. The best way — perhaps the only
way — for all of us to secure and preserve our liberties
is to offer a responsible dissent from those policies which
we believe are wrong and unwise, and then proceed to
offer constructive and viable alternatives.
OPINION NOT "FACTS"
I would not be so bold nor so presumptuous to label
even a majority of the anti-war students "ignorant" if
it means merely that these persons happen to disagree
with Sudd's assessment of the war. What Sudd labeled
as "facts" were merely statements of his opinion, He is
entitled to his beliefs and opinions, but he is not en-tided
to label them as "facts" without more documenta-tion
than appeared in his letter.
On the general credibility and caliber of the students
in question to who Sudd directs much of his criticism,
I have found the majority of these people are not small-minded
at all. To the best of my knowledge, most of
them are good students and definitely self-supporting.
Most of them hold a number of part-time or full-time
jobs; few receive more than token support from parents
or other adults. Few of them are long-haired or bare-footed,
and even if they were, I fail to see how this
would detract from the efficacy of their position on
Viet Nam.
Most of these students have taken the time to edu-cate
themselves on Viet Nam through self-inventory,
reading, seminars, discussion groups, public media, etc.
When they have taken a position, (and not all of them
have turned out war critics) I have respected their stand
because it was based on a genuine attempt to find and
assess the facts in the context of their own lives, the
community, the nation, and the world. Would that more
students at NSC were as well-informed as some of
these students.
Northern is a better college because we do have
these types of students and faculty members. If certain
of the students — and some of the faculty — would
realize dissent is a necessary and desirable by-product
of one's education, that responsible dissent is a mani-festation
of maturity and strength among students, that
the University is a marketplace in which ideas compete,
and finally that thinking and ferment in thought go
hand in hand, I think we would be better off.
SOUTHERN CONTROL QUESTIONABLE
Dennis Darrington's sincerity (Exponent, March 21)
in defending our involvement in Viet Nam cannot, I
think, be questioned. I take issue with his presentation
on other grounds.
I cannot believe Darrington is seriously arguing
that the South today controls the cities of Viet Nam. The
recent Tet offensive has made it all too clear that the
South Vietnamese do not now — if the ever did —
control the cities. Granted that the North did control
the cities until 1965 and that the "illiterate" masses
were indoctrinated and weaned away from "democracy."
Since 1965, what has prevented the South Vietnamese
government from engaging in the same kind of propa-ganda?
Darrington admits that illiterate people will believe
anything. The South Vietnamese government has had
the same opportunity and human resources — the same
captive audience— upon which to work its own peculiar
propaganda. Haven't the South Vietnamese been leaving
the war to us while they indoctrinate their own people?
Darrington failed to recognize the departure of the
French merely signaled the transfer of official and
bureaucratic corruption to the Diem regime. Logic
would have required Darrington to go on and observe
that the heirs to the Diem corruption were the Kye and
Thieu regimes. Here he stops narrating events, leaving
the reader with the impression that corruption ended in
1965 with the coming of power to the Kye-Thieu regimes.
TRAGIC STALEMATE
It seems to me that we don't have the time that
Darrington talks about if we are to avoid more slaughter
and same some remnant of the Vietnamese nation. Our
stay has only stiffened the resolve of the North. They
are not going to negotiate under the threat of daily
bombardment. Our government is responsible for the
tragic stalemate, a term that best defines our position
today.
Not only is Darrington's "France-paper tiger" argu-ment
an unfortunate oversimplification of France's role
in the world and Europe, but I think the designation is
untrue and inaccurate in many respects.
France has strengthened herself as a factor in these
affairs as a result of her extrication from Viet Nam and
Algeria. France is not the first-class power it once was,
but this may not be due to defeat primarily or exclusive-ly
in Viet Nam.
France's physical plant was severely weakened by
the War. The French lost heavily in manpower in both
world wars. If she is a paper tiger, she is one of the few
that has nuclear weapons and an independent nuclear
striking capacity.
It seems that the possession of nuclear weapons has
something to do with being a major power, if not a
superpower. This "paper tiger" has found it possible to
operate outside the protective umbrella of NATO.
CIVILIANS ENDANGERED
Darrington assured us that everything is being done
to warn civilians endangered by activities in designated
war zones. This is an unconvincing and unsatisfying
argument for it fails to account for the fact these mea-surements
have not been adequate to save some 50,000
Vietnamese civilians killed in 1967 alone, to say nothing
of the estimated 1.8 million left homeless.
Some 325,000 refugees have resulted because South
Viet Nam was unable to provide basic security during
the Tet offensive. In the end, history will not judge our
subjective good intentions but rather judge us by what
we have done to the Vietnamese people if they are able
to survive our "good intentions."
Darrington's defense of the "domino theory" is a
familiar one. This, I think, is a piece of historical
nonsense. (Editor's note: Read Senator George McCoy-em's
remarks in the Congressional Record, April 25,
1967.)
The slur on the manhood and the masculinity of
those who oppose our policy in Viet Nana has raised its
ugly head on Northern's campus. Of course, it was al-ways
there — this sentiment of equating dissent with
cowardness and treason — but we have it for the first
time in print. How saddened and angry I was to read
that Misses Binger and Spaulding had chose to respond
in such an ungracious and indelicate manner, and to
compound their error by quoting from President Johnson
of all persons.
It seems to me that a man is not less of a man if
he displays sensitivity, gentlemeness and compassion. It
seems to me that a woman is not less feminine if she
displays forthrightness, stamina, courage, and a vigorous
stand and interest in issues. It is unfortunate that these
young women do not understand — perhaps they never
understood — that it often takes more courage — a
special kind of courage — to stand up for your views
when the whole weight of society conspires to conform
you. But the greatest tragedy of all is these young wo-men
are not capable, apparently, of knowing and ex-periencing
that kind of intellectual courage which com-pels
a read man or woman to stand up for what he
or she believes.
By the way, I am a veteran, too.
Samuel Hasson,
Professor of History
WE'RE BACK
OPENING FRIDAY, APRIL 12
FOR WEEKENDS
STARLITE DRIVE-IN
Want to spend four days
in New York?
Leave, June 1 Return, June 8
U. N. SEMINAR ON SOUTHEAST ASIA
Agenda: Broadway, Tour of City, Sightseeing
Total Cost: $120 to include bus transportation, hotel, Seminar
fee, $5 a day for food, and play tickets.
Contact UCM box X or LSA box Z for more information
Dear Editor:
THIS LETTER is written in re-gard
to the letter in the last Exponent,
accusing members of the VETERANS
CLUB of threatening physical harm
to members of the peace movement.
In answering this letter I would first
like to make a statement concerning
our club policy.
We, the VETERAN'S CLUB, have
discussed the peace movement and
the people connected with it in great
depth. We have, as an official club
policy, stated that we will not inter-fere
with anyone's right to his own
personal opinion. We realize that not
all people have the same views on a
great many things, and we intend to
respect others rights to think and do
as they want.
We sincerely regret that the merry
hers of the peace movement, who
wrote the accusing letter, included the
name of the VETERANS CLUB. If
one of our members did threaten
them, then he did it as an individual
and not as a representative of the
VETERANS CLUB. We want all the
people on this campus, and in this
community, to understand that we,
as a club, haven't threatened anyone,
and we don't intend to do so in the
future.
the latter with always something
One of them who is, you know, is
always caught in histories' throe, grap-pling
with the image-makers and sid-ing
with the image-breakers. Often
not for evaluation, more than not
for stimulation.
Breaking all tradition's form, mock-ing
at the social norm—. Slaughtering
ithe sacred cow, only then to take a
bow and face the cheering, jeering
horn of bull-headed fans who leer
from the stands with naught on their
minds but scorn.
He takes to trodding on a genera-tion
who say his name with veneration
and despite his gentle prodding offer
him a letter's citation to prove that
hypocrisy not democracy, wins again,
my friend.
Attacking symbols he jousts with
mounted knights finding often his ar-mor
trembles — this Don Quixote of
the fight. Writing reality like the true
man Capote, he confesses society with
his pen, and before it's over this
roving reporter finds the sin commit-ted
again.
So back to the drawing board _ put
to the test another man's dream, a
nightmare at best. Down with the
myths, the movement of minds that
center man's interest on things no
one finds. Sharpening his pen for the
Dear Editor:
IN REGARD to Mr. Sweetland's
article in last week's Exponent, I
would like to make a few comments.
First, I am sorry that Mr. Sweetland
misinterpreted my article even though
it may not have been intended and
with all due respect to him, I do not
feel that because I am a veteran I
have some "pre-eminent pedestal from
which I can stand and look down on
the student body." I was just stating
my opinion like anyone else that has
contributed their views to the Ex-ponent.
Nor was I saying that the Vietna-mese
people welcomed us with open
arms. These people have been mis-treated,
but many, after coming to
know the Americans in Vietnam, have
come to respect them. My article was
intended only in part — a small part
— to explain the Tet offensive and
my opinions of it. The Vietnamese
have known nothing but violence and
the villagers have no means of pro-tecting
themselves. Therefore, these
people have learned to "slide with the
tide." It is also known that there had
been some information regarding the
Tet offensive, but this was disregard-ed
as not being important enough to
worry us. I can remember more than
To carry this point further, I would
like to point out that our club is a
social and service club. We are not
in any way a political group. Any
political, or the opinions expressed
by individual members of the VETER-ANS
CLUB are their own, and do
not necessarily reflect the opinion of
the majority of our members. The
opinions of one member of any club
do not necessarily reflect the views
of all the members of that club.
If anyone wants to make an ac-cusation
in the future, we would ap-preciate
it if you would please refer
to the individual and not to the club
of which he may be a member.
Fulton Lickfelt
Phalanx
DON YOUNG, president of
Northern's Phalanx Fraternity,
has announced that the organiza-tion
is now accepting applica-tions
for new members. College
men interested in joining the fra-ternity
are asked to contact Young
or other members of the club for
further information.
else the matter.
establishment quake, be damned in-stitutions,
begone and foresakel
With wide-eyed wonderment things
fall to his quill, Diety asunder, coun-try
of none, flag that's unfurled in
the blaze of no sun. Apple pie
turns sour as he continues to devour,
but maternity-at-will was saved by
the pill.
Let not thyself worship for any
cause, the iconoclast's work will soon
mean a pause for with nothing to
prop you the society will drop you —
just because.
No reason or rhyme to the sensa-tion
of time, but yet one so bold as
the worship of gold. Mere belief is
a prey with little relief from the cut-ting-
edge-sword or the inconcolast's
word. Your ideals may one day send
you to battle, yet custom in India for-bids
slaying the cattle.
Charge to the crest, 'tis civilization
that's untimely, lest one day the blast
from an iconoclast will start man to
man thinking for the sake of an inkl-ing
of faith in the sense that all man's
idolatry, not matter how intense, won't
force his last breath or beat him to
death.
'Tis poetic you say, the rhyming of
verse. 'Tis not I must say, tis only
much worse — none but the fate of
an iconoclast's curse.
once a situation in which a Vietna-mese
villager was hiding in the bush
and voluntarily gave our patrols warn-ing
of a Viet Cong ambush.
My opinions probably are prejudic-ed
because of the time that I spent
in Vietnam. While I was there, I did
try to understand some of these people
and did learn to respect them. Fur-thermore,
I detest the thought of the
United States trying to push any par-ticular
form of government on the
Vietnamese, but at the same time I
would also like to see these people
given the chance to learn and choose
the best type of government for Viet-nam.
After these people have this
chance, then, if the United States' pre-sence
is not wanted, I would very
strongly favor a pull out from Viet-nam.
Yet the situation now in Viet-nam
is such that the people cannot
be expected to know what is best for
them. They have not actually exper-ienced
freedom. Therefore, their un-derstanding
of the word freedom is
based necessarily on what they have
seen from the Americans. They have
realized that when the Americans are
there they will not starve and that
their lives will not be threatened by
the Americans.
I also feel that responsible dissent
is necessary and desirable because it
is what makes the country we are liv-ing
in today a strong and vital one. At
Northern there is some responsible
dissent. I sincerely respect people who
make their opinions and beliefs known
in a responsible manner. As an ex-ample
of irresponsible dissent, I
would suggest that the cartoons de-picting
American fighting men as
savages and barbarians are both un-fair
and offensive. As Americans we
should be broad-minded enough to
look at the pros and cons of all issues.
At the same time, I do not feel that
I have to agree with these opinions,
and I should be allowed the same op-portunity
to express mine.
I am not a flag-waving patriot that
feels the United States can do no
wrong. I am sure today that there are
very few people who favor all of our
domestic and foreign policies but we
live in a very precious heritage and
must accept disagreements of policy
in a responsible manner. I again do
hope that my remarks are not mis-interpreted
as pertaining to any group
or individual but to everyone in gen-eral.
Finally, I would add a reminder
that those who attempt to stereotype
the "veteran" on this campus do veto
the cause of truth and do the veteran
a diservice. It seems to me that a
veteran should be judged individually
rather than by some "stereotyped"
non-reflective image of veterans.
Dennis Darrington
April 4, 1968
THE EXPONENT Page Three
Iconoclasm . • •
by Randy Howell
Exponent Editor
PERHAPS the last iconoclast will one day look o'er what is
past, and reminisce about that and this, finding the former like
Misplaced accusation
Veterans uphold club policy
Stereotypes discrediting
Student defends opinion

Vax 805; ea, I
Professor refutes 'blind' philosophy,
asserts war critics' right to dissent
Dear Editor:
MIKE SUDD asserts (Exponent, March 21, "We
must stand behind our country and its position as best
we can." He goes on, "This is the only way we can pre-serve
our rights to secure a free country." Perhaps I am
mistaken, but I am chilled and repelled, by the implica-tion
of what Sudd seems to be saying, namely his en-dorsement
of the philosophy — "my country right or
wrong."
This is the same kind of mental process that per-mitted
people in Germany and elsewhere to condone
terrible genocide of the 1930's and '40's, for they too
were persuaded by this twisted logic and reasoning. I
connot recommend this type of reasoning or approach
to life to any student at NSC for it violates the premise
upon which Academe is based — the critical and impas-sionate
search for truth.
Truth is not served by blind loyalties and unthink-ing
nationalism. The best way — perhaps the only
way — for all of us to secure and preserve our liberties
is to offer a responsible dissent from those policies which
we believe are wrong and unwise, and then proceed to
offer constructive and viable alternatives.
OPINION NOT "FACTS"
I would not be so bold nor so presumptuous to label
even a majority of the anti-war students "ignorant" if
it means merely that these persons happen to disagree
with Sudd's assessment of the war. What Sudd labeled
as "facts" were merely statements of his opinion, He is
entitled to his beliefs and opinions, but he is not en-tided
to label them as "facts" without more documenta-tion
than appeared in his letter.
On the general credibility and caliber of the students
in question to who Sudd directs much of his criticism,
I have found the majority of these people are not small-minded
at all. To the best of my knowledge, most of
them are good students and definitely self-supporting.
Most of them hold a number of part-time or full-time
jobs; few receive more than token support from parents
or other adults. Few of them are long-haired or bare-footed,
and even if they were, I fail to see how this
would detract from the efficacy of their position on
Viet Nam.
Most of these students have taken the time to edu-cate
themselves on Viet Nam through self-inventory,
reading, seminars, discussion groups, public media, etc.
When they have taken a position, (and not all of them
have turned out war critics) I have respected their stand
because it was based on a genuine attempt to find and
assess the facts in the context of their own lives, the
community, the nation, and the world. Would that more
students at NSC were as well-informed as some of
these students.
Northern is a better college because we do have
these types of students and faculty members. If certain
of the students — and some of the faculty — would
realize dissent is a necessary and desirable by-product
of one's education, that responsible dissent is a mani-festation
of maturity and strength among students, that
the University is a marketplace in which ideas compete,
and finally that thinking and ferment in thought go
hand in hand, I think we would be better off.
SOUTHERN CONTROL QUESTIONABLE
Dennis Darrington's sincerity (Exponent, March 21)
in defending our involvement in Viet Nam cannot, I
think, be questioned. I take issue with his presentation
on other grounds.
I cannot believe Darrington is seriously arguing
that the South today controls the cities of Viet Nam. The
recent Tet offensive has made it all too clear that the
South Vietnamese do not now — if the ever did —
control the cities. Granted that the North did control
the cities until 1965 and that the "illiterate" masses
were indoctrinated and weaned away from "democracy."
Since 1965, what has prevented the South Vietnamese
government from engaging in the same kind of propa-ganda?
Darrington admits that illiterate people will believe
anything. The South Vietnamese government has had
the same opportunity and human resources — the same
captive audience— upon which to work its own peculiar
propaganda. Haven't the South Vietnamese been leaving
the war to us while they indoctrinate their own people?
Darrington failed to recognize the departure of the
French merely signaled the transfer of official and
bureaucratic corruption to the Diem regime. Logic
would have required Darrington to go on and observe
that the heirs to the Diem corruption were the Kye and
Thieu regimes. Here he stops narrating events, leaving
the reader with the impression that corruption ended in
1965 with the coming of power to the Kye-Thieu regimes.
TRAGIC STALEMATE
It seems to me that we don't have the time that
Darrington talks about if we are to avoid more slaughter
and same some remnant of the Vietnamese nation. Our
stay has only stiffened the resolve of the North. They
are not going to negotiate under the threat of daily
bombardment. Our government is responsible for the
tragic stalemate, a term that best defines our position
today.
Not only is Darrington's "France-paper tiger" argu-ment
an unfortunate oversimplification of France's role
in the world and Europe, but I think the designation is
untrue and inaccurate in many respects.
France has strengthened herself as a factor in these
affairs as a result of her extrication from Viet Nam and
Algeria. France is not the first-class power it once was,
but this may not be due to defeat primarily or exclusive-ly
in Viet Nam.
France's physical plant was severely weakened by
the War. The French lost heavily in manpower in both
world wars. If she is a paper tiger, she is one of the few
that has nuclear weapons and an independent nuclear
striking capacity.
It seems that the possession of nuclear weapons has
something to do with being a major power, if not a
superpower. This "paper tiger" has found it possible to
operate outside the protective umbrella of NATO.
CIVILIANS ENDANGERED
Darrington assured us that everything is being done
to warn civilians endangered by activities in designated
war zones. This is an unconvincing and unsatisfying
argument for it fails to account for the fact these mea-surements
have not been adequate to save some 50,000
Vietnamese civilians killed in 1967 alone, to say nothing
of the estimated 1.8 million left homeless.
Some 325,000 refugees have resulted because South
Viet Nam was unable to provide basic security during
the Tet offensive. In the end, history will not judge our
subjective good intentions but rather judge us by what
we have done to the Vietnamese people if they are able
to survive our "good intentions."
Darrington's defense of the "domino theory" is a
familiar one. This, I think, is a piece of historical
nonsense. (Editor's note: Read Senator George McCoy-em's
remarks in the Congressional Record, April 25,
1967.)
The slur on the manhood and the masculinity of
those who oppose our policy in Viet Nana has raised its
ugly head on Northern's campus. Of course, it was al-ways
there — this sentiment of equating dissent with
cowardness and treason — but we have it for the first
time in print. How saddened and angry I was to read
that Misses Binger and Spaulding had chose to respond
in such an ungracious and indelicate manner, and to
compound their error by quoting from President Johnson
of all persons.
It seems to me that a man is not less of a man if
he displays sensitivity, gentlemeness and compassion. It
seems to me that a woman is not less feminine if she
displays forthrightness, stamina, courage, and a vigorous
stand and interest in issues. It is unfortunate that these
young women do not understand — perhaps they never
understood — that it often takes more courage — a
special kind of courage — to stand up for your views
when the whole weight of society conspires to conform
you. But the greatest tragedy of all is these young wo-men
are not capable, apparently, of knowing and ex-periencing
that kind of intellectual courage which com-pels
a read man or woman to stand up for what he
or she believes.
By the way, I am a veteran, too.
Samuel Hasson,
Professor of History
WE'RE BACK
OPENING FRIDAY, APRIL 12
FOR WEEKENDS
STARLITE DRIVE-IN
Want to spend four days
in New York?
Leave, June 1 Return, June 8
U. N. SEMINAR ON SOUTHEAST ASIA
Agenda: Broadway, Tour of City, Sightseeing
Total Cost: $120 to include bus transportation, hotel, Seminar
fee, $5 a day for food, and play tickets.
Contact UCM box X or LSA box Z for more information
Dear Editor:
THIS LETTER is written in re-gard
to the letter in the last Exponent,
accusing members of the VETERANS
CLUB of threatening physical harm
to members of the peace movement.
In answering this letter I would first
like to make a statement concerning
our club policy.
We, the VETERAN'S CLUB, have
discussed the peace movement and
the people connected with it in great
depth. We have, as an official club
policy, stated that we will not inter-fere
with anyone's right to his own
personal opinion. We realize that not
all people have the same views on a
great many things, and we intend to
respect others rights to think and do
as they want.
We sincerely regret that the merry
hers of the peace movement, who
wrote the accusing letter, included the
name of the VETERANS CLUB. If
one of our members did threaten
them, then he did it as an individual
and not as a representative of the
VETERANS CLUB. We want all the
people on this campus, and in this
community, to understand that we,
as a club, haven't threatened anyone,
and we don't intend to do so in the
future.
the latter with always something
One of them who is, you know, is
always caught in histories' throe, grap-pling
with the image-makers and sid-ing
with the image-breakers. Often
not for evaluation, more than not
for stimulation.
Breaking all tradition's form, mock-ing
at the social norm—. Slaughtering
ithe sacred cow, only then to take a
bow and face the cheering, jeering
horn of bull-headed fans who leer
from the stands with naught on their
minds but scorn.
He takes to trodding on a genera-tion
who say his name with veneration
and despite his gentle prodding offer
him a letter's citation to prove that
hypocrisy not democracy, wins again,
my friend.
Attacking symbols he jousts with
mounted knights finding often his ar-mor
trembles — this Don Quixote of
the fight. Writing reality like the true
man Capote, he confesses society with
his pen, and before it's over this
roving reporter finds the sin commit-ted
again.
So back to the drawing board _ put
to the test another man's dream, a
nightmare at best. Down with the
myths, the movement of minds that
center man's interest on things no
one finds. Sharpening his pen for the
Dear Editor:
IN REGARD to Mr. Sweetland's
article in last week's Exponent, I
would like to make a few comments.
First, I am sorry that Mr. Sweetland
misinterpreted my article even though
it may not have been intended and
with all due respect to him, I do not
feel that because I am a veteran I
have some "pre-eminent pedestal from
which I can stand and look down on
the student body." I was just stating
my opinion like anyone else that has
contributed their views to the Ex-ponent.
Nor was I saying that the Vietna-mese
people welcomed us with open
arms. These people have been mis-treated,
but many, after coming to
know the Americans in Vietnam, have
come to respect them. My article was
intended only in part — a small part
— to explain the Tet offensive and
my opinions of it. The Vietnamese
have known nothing but violence and
the villagers have no means of pro-tecting
themselves. Therefore, these
people have learned to "slide with the
tide." It is also known that there had
been some information regarding the
Tet offensive, but this was disregard-ed
as not being important enough to
worry us. I can remember more than
To carry this point further, I would
like to point out that our club is a
social and service club. We are not
in any way a political group. Any
political, or the opinions expressed
by individual members of the VETER-ANS
CLUB are their own, and do
not necessarily reflect the opinion of
the majority of our members. The
opinions of one member of any club
do not necessarily reflect the views
of all the members of that club.
If anyone wants to make an ac-cusation
in the future, we would ap-preciate
it if you would please refer
to the individual and not to the club
of which he may be a member.
Fulton Lickfelt
Phalanx
DON YOUNG, president of
Northern's Phalanx Fraternity,
has announced that the organiza-tion
is now accepting applica-tions
for new members. College
men interested in joining the fra-ternity
are asked to contact Young
or other members of the club for
further information.
else the matter.
establishment quake, be damned in-stitutions,
begone and foresakel
With wide-eyed wonderment things
fall to his quill, Diety asunder, coun-try
of none, flag that's unfurled in
the blaze of no sun. Apple pie
turns sour as he continues to devour,
but maternity-at-will was saved by
the pill.
Let not thyself worship for any
cause, the iconoclast's work will soon
mean a pause for with nothing to
prop you the society will drop you —
just because.
No reason or rhyme to the sensa-tion
of time, but yet one so bold as
the worship of gold. Mere belief is
a prey with little relief from the cut-ting-
edge-sword or the inconcolast's
word. Your ideals may one day send
you to battle, yet custom in India for-bids
slaying the cattle.
Charge to the crest, 'tis civilization
that's untimely, lest one day the blast
from an iconoclast will start man to
man thinking for the sake of an inkl-ing
of faith in the sense that all man's
idolatry, not matter how intense, won't
force his last breath or beat him to
death.
'Tis poetic you say, the rhyming of
verse. 'Tis not I must say, tis only
much worse — none but the fate of
an iconoclast's curse.
once a situation in which a Vietna-mese
villager was hiding in the bush
and voluntarily gave our patrols warn-ing
of a Viet Cong ambush.
My opinions probably are prejudic-ed
because of the time that I spent
in Vietnam. While I was there, I did
try to understand some of these people
and did learn to respect them. Fur-thermore,
I detest the thought of the
United States trying to push any par-ticular
form of government on the
Vietnamese, but at the same time I
would also like to see these people
given the chance to learn and choose
the best type of government for Viet-nam.
After these people have this
chance, then, if the United States' pre-sence
is not wanted, I would very
strongly favor a pull out from Viet-nam.
Yet the situation now in Viet-nam
is such that the people cannot
be expected to know what is best for
them. They have not actually exper-ienced
freedom. Therefore, their un-derstanding
of the word freedom is
based necessarily on what they have
seen from the Americans. They have
realized that when the Americans are
there they will not starve and that
their lives will not be threatened by
the Americans.
I also feel that responsible dissent
is necessary and desirable because it
is what makes the country we are liv-ing
in today a strong and vital one. At
Northern there is some responsible
dissent. I sincerely respect people who
make their opinions and beliefs known
in a responsible manner. As an ex-ample
of irresponsible dissent, I
would suggest that the cartoons de-picting
American fighting men as
savages and barbarians are both un-fair
and offensive. As Americans we
should be broad-minded enough to
look at the pros and cons of all issues.
At the same time, I do not feel that
I have to agree with these opinions,
and I should be allowed the same op-portunity
to express mine.
I am not a flag-waving patriot that
feels the United States can do no
wrong. I am sure today that there are
very few people who favor all of our
domestic and foreign policies but we
live in a very precious heritage and
must accept disagreements of policy
in a responsible manner. I again do
hope that my remarks are not mis-interpreted
as pertaining to any group
or individual but to everyone in gen-eral.
Finally, I would add a reminder
that those who attempt to stereotype
the "veteran" on this campus do veto
the cause of truth and do the veteran
a diservice. It seems to me that a
veteran should be judged individually
rather than by some "stereotyped"
non-reflective image of veterans.
Dennis Darrington
April 4, 1968
THE EXPONENT Page Three
Iconoclasm . • •
by Randy Howell
Exponent Editor
PERHAPS the last iconoclast will one day look o'er what is
past, and reminisce about that and this, finding the former like
Misplaced accusation
Veterans uphold club policy
Stereotypes discrediting
Student defends opinion